Add CT imaging section

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jaseg 2025-09-10 15:54:23 +02:00
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@ -734,7 +734,20 @@ via fence layers, at the bottom of the PCB is one more layer containing the pads
% FIXME put the CT people in the acknowledgements! Also the microwave people!
To evaluate CT imaging as an attack method, we performed CT imaging of the potted HSM module of an Ingenico payment
terminal. Figure~\ref{hsm_fig_ingenico_potted} shows the module we analyzed and two images exported from the resulting
CT scan data. % FIXME
CT scan data. Figure~\ref{hsm_fig_ingenico_potted_ct_cut} shows a horizontal cut across part of the module. In this cut,
we can clearly identify a mesh layer with multiple traces, four solid metal contacts riveted to the mesh foil, and two
unused contact pads and mesh traces in the lower part of the picture. An attacker would be able to use this information
to target the metal contacts with a tool like a needle probe. From the CT scan we were able to measure that the mesh of
the device has a pitch of \qty{1.0}{\milli\meter}. Thus, even inserting a thin needle probe right through one of the
mesh's traces should be possible without breaking the trace.
Figure~\ref{hsm_fig_ingenioc_potted_ct_3d} shows a 3D reconstruction of the mesh's conductor layout. While the
reconstruction is slightly noisy due to the limited scan time available, it contains ample detail to reconstruct the
mesh's layout and conductor count, and even to derive conductor dimensions in order to calculate resistance and other
electronic parameters. The mesh's foil is wrapped around the circuit board forming a pillow shape, which is clearly
reflected in the reconstructed 3D mesh geometry. This information could be used to guide a CNC milling machine to
selectively ablate the device's potting precisely down to the mesh's conductors to enable direct patching attacks on the
mesh.
\section{Discussion}